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Disabled youth face worse foster care outcomes, report says
NPR reports that disabled children stay significantly longer in foster care than non-disabled peers.
Updated Oct 3, 2026 · 16:23 UTC1 reports
The short version
- An NPR investigation analyzing 2025 federal data on over 500,000 foster youth found that disabled children face the worst system outcomes.[NPR]
- Disabled children remain in foster care 50% longer than non-disabled children and are less likely to be adopted or reunited with family.[NPR]
Key facts
- NPR analyzed federal data covering over 500,000 children in foster care during 2025.[NPR]
- Disabled children remain in foster care 50% longer than children without disabilities.[NPR]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.